When dimensioning a sketch with a plan to mirror all, mirror a hole or two, or revolve your sketch and you want diameter dimensions as opposed to radius dimensions. Your dimension scheme can suffer because all the geometry for the final part is not available of course. The way around this and to capture your desired dimension scheme is to use the doubled dimension.

A doubled dimension makes a dimension that would normally only will be half the dimension wanted, but will create the dimension to the virtual doubled size area on the other side of the halfway mark.

The double dimension needs one thing to be created. That one thing is a centerline/construction line in the same sketch that you are working in. I usually create the centerline in place with a symmetric relation when available in the design. The doubled dimension is easy once the centerline is created. Start your smart dimension command and choose the entity to dimension and the centerline, any order you would like as always on any dimension. Before you make your third click to place your mouse curser to opposite side of the entity and the centerline and you will notice the dimension will “double”. Click when you see the dimension doubled. Of course if your settings are set to asking you what you want for a dimension size you will type in your value.

This “doubled dimension” can/should also be used when creating a Revolve. The thing that needs to be known on this is the centerline used for the dimension MUST be the centerline used in the Revolve. When the Revolve is created all the dimensions that are doubled using the centerline will have the diameter symbol associated with it. These dimensions can also be changed to radius dimensions.

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